OCI process

[lifein360]

Hi @rajkamalmohanram My Surrender status is showing as "Surrender has been granted and is available for issuance". Guess next steps is printing and then back to BLS and back to me?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Hi @rajkamalmohanram My Surrender status is showing as "Surrender has been granted and is available for issuance". Guess next steps is printing and then back to BLS and back to me?

Yes.

 

[Ryn_20]

For whoever has completed the process of oci can please let me know if there was any police check done at Indian address similar to passport renewal they do?
Instead of BLS can we go to downtown consulate office for surrender and OCI application?
For canadian passport number of days will differ If we apply In Torornto/Scarborough?

please someone advise.

 

[Ryn_20]

For whoever has completed the process of oci can please let me know if there was any police check done at Indian address similar to passport renewal they do?
Instead of BLS can we go to downtown consulate office for surrender and OCI application?
For canadian passport number of days will differ If we apply In Torornto/Scarborough?

please someone advise.

Few more questions.
While OCI is in process can we get Indian visit visa and can have the oci sticker printed in India ?

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

For whoever has completed the process of oci can please let me know if there was any police check done at Indian address similar to passport renewal they do?
Instead of BLS can we go to downtown consulate office for surrender and OCI application?
For canadian passport number of days will differ If we apply In Torornto/Scarborough?

please someone advise.

There was no mention of police checks anywhere during the OCI application.

No, you can't submit your application to the consulate directly. You MUST go through BLS.

For Canadian passport, it depends. If you go for normal service, the processing time might be different in different places. If you choose Express pickup service, you'll receive your passport under 9 business days from the date of submission.

 

[rajkamalmohanram]

Few more questions.
While OCI is in process can we get Indian visit visa and can have the oci sticker printed in India ?

You can't visit India on a tourist visa anyway because of COVID but to answer your question, yes, you might be able to submit a visa application. You'll have to do this along with your surrender application. And there is no such thing called "OCI sticker". OCI is a booklet and looks like a passport with 4 pages. If you apply in Canada, your OCI will be sent from the consulate here to BLS and you will have to either collect it from them or get it delivered to your address. I don't think BLS will ship it internationally.

 

[patelboss]

Hello Fam,
I am Canadian passport holder, recently got my OCI stamped on Oct 7 (bls site updated Counter delivery to bls center).
I have booked tickets to Delhi (Air India) for Dec 8th. My question is; do i have to carry any document other than Canadian Passport and OCI booklet ???
Please and thank you

 

[lifein360]

Hello Fam,
I am Canadian passport holder, recently got my OCI stamped on Oct 7 (bls site updated Counter delivery to bls center).
I have booked tickets to Delhi (Air India) for Dec 8th. My question is; do i have to carry any document other than Canadian Passport and OCI booklet ???
Please and thank you

nope that’s all you need to carry

 

[patelboss]

nope that’s all you need to carry

Thank you .!!

 

[patelboss]

What are the covid protocols for travelling to india ?
I heard we have to get a negative RTPCR test 72 hours before our flight.
My flight is Toronto-Delhi-Ahmedabad. Do i have to again take a rtpcr test at Delhi airport even though i am fully vaccinated ?

 

[priysen02]

Yes, if your husband has lost the Landing paper, you can provide them your Husband's PR card. Basically they need to see the CATEGORY under which he immigrated to Canada. If your PR card has the category mentioned at the back, this will serve the purpose.

P.S - The new PR cards do not have the category mentioned at their back, so in that case, one needs to apply for their Landing Paper (COPR) first from CIC and then apply for OCI.

If in any case you (the main applicant) looses their Landing Paper (COPR), he/she can apply with the PR card or photocopy of PR card (if he/she is already a citizen). They will ask you the write a letter stating that you lost you Landing paper and which is why you are applying using PR card.

Hope this helps.

Very helpful . I am applying for OCI since I got Citizenship. My husband is still not eligible for citizenship . Still I need to upload his Passport,PR card COPR etc . As I am married my query is under which of the 7 categories mentioned in OCI checklist do I need to upload his docs . It would be great help if any one responds

 

[priteshhi]

Few more questions.
While OCI is in process can we get Indian visit visa and can have the oci sticker printed in India ?

Info received from BLS
No visitor visas are issued at the moment, you can only submit application for entry visa (only valid for 3 months). some one who is flying can carry the OCI booklet and hand it over in india.

Note: your status will be visitor in India if you use visa for entry, and if you plan to stay longer then 3 months then you will have to exit/re-enter India to activate OCI or visit FFRO office in your city in india to update your status from visitor to OCI..


Also read in news, india is going to open visitor visa for all foreigners from 15 OCT... so you might be able apply for visitor.

REF: https://www.livemint.com/news/india...chartered-flights-from-15-11633609615825.html

 

[priteshhi]

What are the covid protocols for travelling to india ?
I heard we have to get a negative RTPCR test 72 hours before our flight.
My flight is Toronto-Delhi-Ahmedabad. Do i have to again take a rtpcr test at Delhi airport even though i am fully vaccinated ?

Yup, will need to get tested once you land in india, before collecting your bags.

Coming back is even a bigger headache, where only place you can take test is at delhi airport I hope you have good layover at delhi because once you go out to take the test they won't allow you in untill 7hrs before departure of your next flight.

 

[Suh1756]

Info received from BLS
No visitor visas are issued at the moment, you can only submit application for entry visa (only valid for 3 months). some one who is flying can carry the OCI booklet and hand it over in india.

Note: your status will be visitor in India if you use visa for entry, and if you plan to stay longer then 3 months then you will have to exit/re-enter India to activate OCI or visit FFRO office in your city in india to update your status from visitor to OCI..


Also read in news, india is going to open visitor visa for all foreigners from 15 OCT... so you might be able apply for visitor.

REF: https://www.livemint.com/news/india...chartered-flights-from-15-11633609615825.html

The rules might have changed recently. But, for my daughter born in 2018. She travelled on Tourist Visa in 2018 and we applied for OCI in India. We never re-entered nor visited FRRO for any status update. Another difference I see here is, my daughter's OCI was issued in India during her stay of 11 months.

 

[Abhishek901]

Also, I just noticed on my OCI application form that I had left the "Previous Nationality of applicant" field empty. It shows NA on the application form.

Did you guys fill this field out and mention Indian citizenship for this field? It is #12 on the application. Could you guys please check your application form and let me know?

They have this sample form on their website where they have filled India in the previous nationality section - https://blsindia-canada.com/forms/BLS_oci_sample_form.pdf